Page:The Commentaries of the Emperor Marcus Antoninus.pdf/11

This page needs to be proofread.

( vi )

( vi )

1 tends it in all Conditions of Life. Here is the Source of that Magnanimity which eno bles the meaneſt Subjects, and raiſes Princes Here is the

1

Source of that conſtant Serenity and internal Satisfa &tion of Mind, which exbilarates

1

to the bigbeft Pitch of Glory.

even Indigence, and without which Empire itſelf is a Burden .

even

The Book begins with an Enumeration of theſeveral good Qualities of thoſe about him , wbofe Inſtruction and Example contributed to the forming of

bis Mind and Manners,

Wbicb Strokes of Character taken altogether ere a large Collection of the greateſt and rareſt Virtuts that adorn buman Nature, propoſed in a plain fimple Manner ;

without

any fuperfluous Words, and glaring Orna ments of Speech. Moreover theſe Pi &tures are the more moving and intereſting, that they are not propoſed barely in Honour of the Perſons characteriſed, but as the Pat terns on which our Author ſtudied to form bimſelf.

This Beginning isfollowed by a Collection of the moſt elevated Thoughts concerning the Harmony and Progreſs of Univerſal Nature, and the proper Virtues of Human Nature ; Thoughts that are apt to produce every Thing that's